In a unanimous vote Thursday, the Athens-Clarke Commission approved an emergency ordinance aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19
There are now at least nine cases of the coronavirus in the Northeast Georgia county.
The ordinance requires Athens-Clarke County residents to shelter-in-place 24/7 and maintain social distancing. It also shuts down non-essential businesses and services.
The ordinance also restricts non-essential travel, allows temporary handwashing stations to be set up around the county, and provides $3M in emergency funding to help those affected by COVID-19. In addition, commissioners directed the county manager to engage with service providers to ensure that there is “ample capacity to provide shelter to all homeless individuals.”
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The Athens-Clarkes County law codifies much of what local communities already have started to do, limiting contact by limiting social settings and venues. It gives the county a way to enforce those limits, primarily over businesses that could be sanctioned if they don’t follow the rules. The county could go as far as to shut down businesses that don’t observe social distancing protection meant to limit transmission of COVID-19, the Athens Banner-Herald reports.
The distancing and “shelter-in-place” rules will be enforced with education and guidance, not fines, arrests or jail, Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz said in Thursday night’s emergency meeting.
The Athens-Clarke County law is among the most stringent in the state. To read the full, final approved ordinance, click here.
